South Huron District High School has the first Canadian High School chapter of the group Active Minds, which helps students deal with mental health challenges.
Founder Ryan Miller says so many people struggle with mental health issues, such as anxiety and depressions, but they suffer in silence so Miller hopes to start the conversation about mental health.
The student says with exams about to begin, the stress levels of Perth and Huron County high school students will be even higher.
Miller says exams are incredibly nerve wracking as students have two hours to show everything they've learned over the semester.
"We've purchased exam survival kits containing essential tools and utensils for students with anxiety such as adult coloring books for when they're finished writing, as well as other 'fidgets'. We had "Active Minds at South Huron" pencils made to give to students if they happen to forget or need one," Miller explains.
"We're also working towards having Mental Health speakers in, as well as workshops with local community members to help Wellness and teach proper de stressing activities, including yoga, meditation, active sports, drawing, and even making your own bath bombs," he adds.
Miller says a survey will be released to students over the next few weeks to ask about mental wellness, and what students feel they need for the remainder of the school year.
Active Minds recently received a "Youth in Action" grant from local United Way to help bring Mental Health Awareness speakers to the school to help break the silence.
Miller is available to help other high schools start their own chapter.
“Youth is definitely a focus area for United Way, which lead to the creation of Connect Youth Perth-Huron last year,” says Ryan Erb, executive director of United Way Perth-Huron.
Connect Youth is a website that provides options for youth to make healthy decisions for their lives and to find community services in Perth and Huron County that can help them.
Concerns ranging from complexion and weight, to family challenges, pregnancy, violence, bullying, and health related fears – issues both small and large can be searched in an easy format to connect them to the appropriate services that can help.
“During exams and really anytime of the year, this website is such a valuable resource," says Erb. "Youth can remain empowered, searching the information themselves and finding the help they need.”
The service can be found at http://connectyouthperthhuron.ca/
